Sussex force Derbyshire to follow on

Mark Robinson put Sussex on course for victory against Derbyshire at Arundel with his best figures for two years.

The 34-year-old medium pacer devastated the rock-bottom visitors with 5-35.

It was Robinson's most profitable return since taking 6-88, again against Derbyshire, at Derby in 1999.

Robinson had Mathew Dowman and Robin Bailey caught cheaply at second slip by skipper Chris Adams either side of lunch.

At tea Derbyshire were 190-7, just ten runs short of avoiding the follow-on in reply to Sussex's 349 all out.

They finished three shy of that target thanks to Robinson, who cleaned up the tail with a remarkable burst of 3-0 in seven balls.

He bowled Adrian Pierson as the lanky off-spinner shouldered arms, then had Tim Munton caught behind and Lian Wharton caught in the slips in his next over.

Derbyshire reduced their 118-run deficit by 34 for the loss of Steve Stubbings before bad light and then heavy rain ended play 13 overs early.

Graeme Welch had earlier removed Jason Lewry and Robinson in successive balls in the opening over of the day for a career-best 6-82.